by Lisa Bedford The Survival Mom
Recently by Lisa Bedford: 15 Non-Traditional Containers for Your Bug Out Bag/Emergency Kit
Guest post by Kris.
Flashback to 2001, when my husband and I were traveling 4 hours to visit family for Christmas. Out of nowhere, mild snow flurries became a full-on snowstorm so fast that the road crews couldn’t keep up. We were stranded on the interstate at night – along with hundreds of other travelers – with no forward movement for over two hours. As newlyweds it was a small inconvenience and an excuse to kiss between Christmas carols on the radio.
A moms guide to getting ready for winter travelFlash forward to 2012. Two children and a (prepper) lifetime later, I realize that minor inconvenience today could result in a major meltdown – or worse. As a relatively new survival mom, I now carry items to ensure the comfort and safety of my family should my car (same one from 2001, plus about 195,000 miles) leave us stranded. Please note: NONE of this was on my radar at the time. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that snowstorm the first morning I had to scrape ice this fall. I’m now carrying:
Car kit – Fix-a-Flat, jumper cables, spare tire, extra keys, tow rope, and basic tools
72-hour kit – Food and water enough for the whole family, plus the basic fire-starting and survival tools you’d keep in a bug-out bag. Even if we don’t need to survive for days, a kid-friendly snack can be a big morale booster. Boredom plus low blood sugar equals meltdowns and multiplied stress. That’s math I’d rather not attempt. (P.S. My husband says carrying water is important, anyway, in case of an overheated radiator. Who knew?)
Complete first aid kit – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve doctored up other people’s kids at t-ball or soccer games from this trunk kit. I added some Celox just in case. And for my little guys, I got a version with tooth preservation gel. They only have two permanent teeth between them, but I’d really like to keep them. And if that snow storm causes a pile-up or ditch slide, we’ll have a few resources in case ambulances can’t get through.
Coveralls and blankets – I found these on clearance last summer and bought them a size up for the kids. In space bags, they nestle at the bottom of a clear bin in my trunk. I have also included a small case of “Hot Hands” instant warmers (like my husband takes hunting) just in case the battery dies or I run out of gas. Speaking of which…
At least a half tank of gas at all times
